Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/56

42 The presence of these birds is so sure an indication of the position of the fish, that the fishermen hasten to the spot where they are seen hovering in the air. The canoe skims rapidly along, rising and falling on the waves, by which a similar motion is communicated to the hook, which skips along, sometimes out and sometimes in the water, while the plumes of feathers flutter immediately above. The artifice rarely fails to succeed; if the Bonito perceives the hook, he instantly engages in pursuit, and if he misses his grasp, perseveres until he has seized it. The moment the man in the stern perceives the capture, he hoists the crane, and the fish is dragged in, and thrown into a sort of long basket, suspended between the two canoes. The crane is then lowered again, and all is ready for another candidate.

The use of the hook and line with us may be considered as divided into two branches; in the one these implements are employed as a trade, in the other as a sport. Several of our valuable fisheries are carried on almost exclusively with the hook; for example, Cod, Haddock, Whiting, Hake, Ling, Coalfish, Pollock, and other Fishes, all belonging to the great and important Cod family (Gadidæ), are taken in this manner, as well as the Turbot, Plaice, Flounder, and most other Flat-fish (Pleuronectidæ). There are two modes of line-fishing, neither of which requires the use of a rod. The first is by long lines, deep sea-lines, or bulters, as they are variously called, consisting of a strong line of great length, with an anchor at one end and a buoy-rope at the other. At regular distances along